Discussion with the City of Des Moines
Since the middle of February, our church has been in conversation with the City of Des Moines regarding our Easement Agreement with the Highline School District (Parkside) and the drive away for the new Parkside campus. These conversations involve two issues:
1). the legal agreement between Highline School District, Presbytery of Seattle
and our church used the term “easement” which the city of Des Moines does not
allow for such land use agreements. Therefore, the school district and our church are working on a new written agreement which meets the city ordinance regarding a “dedicated tract”.
2). the city’s records show that the “right-of-way” (the undeveloped portion
of 22nd Ave.) runs through our existing buildings – east portion of small lounge,
stairs to downstairs classrooms, kitchen, fellowship hall- and that the land where the current school driveway is located does not belong to the church.
Therefore, the city has proposed a two phase solution – request the city a “right-of-way” adjustment and a vacation of the “right-of-way”. This would make this portion of the property ours and we then could establish the driveway agreement with the school district and Parkside. As part of this proposal, the city is asking the church and presbytery to dedicate to the city 20-30 feet of our property adjacent to 248th Street (running from our property’s western boundary to its eastern boundary) in lieu of the required fees of approximately $8,450.00.
We are looking at King County and City of Des Moines land records and information, requested (by action of Session) the City to provide clarification on specific measurements and area of our property impacted by this proposal, sought legal counsel (as required by the Seattle Presbytery) and are in proper contact and communication with the Presbytery of Seattle on this matter.
There are some more meetings with the City and the School Distinct scheduled. So be in prayer about this matter. As it does get resolved, there will be a congregational meeting on the final proposal and actions needed to be taken by our church and the Seattle Presbytery. |
